Greetings again my
Brethren. As we behold His glory more and
more we are changed into whatsoever we behold not what we want to be changed
into or even what we believe we will be changed into. We can only become what
we have truly received from God. Too
many Christians today are believing, to receive from God, in vain for things
that will never come their way. They are
believing, as God as requested us, but they have gotten the order wrong. The correct order in God for operating in
faith is: hearing, receiving, and then believing. We must realize the faith to believe for
something is owned by God. We cannot
pray it up, work it up, or even fast it up, we must receive God’s faith when he
speaks to us. Faith is God’s not
ours. It is of the Spirit of God, not of
man in anyway. He must give it to us so
that we can do whatsoever He wants. When
He speaks and we hear we receive faith.
In God’s speaking therein is contained all we shall ever need to do
whatsoever God has asked us to do. In
Romans Paul shares this truth with us, “So then faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God.” (Romans
Many pray for faith, to do what? God does not give us His things, faith
included, so we can have them, oh no my friend, God gives us His things so we
can accomplish His will on earth bringing His plan for our lives to an end. And for us to receive faith God must speak
whatsoever we are to do for Him. Now God
is always speaking to us. The problem is God not speaking, but it is we are not
hearing. It seems our spiritual ears are filled with things of the world, our
selfish ways, and doubt. In James we
read, “Draw nigh to
God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your
hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8) For us to be able to hear God
speak to us so that we can receive faith we must “Draw nigh to God,” but we do not want to do this. We
know if we “Draw nigh to God” all of
our selfish plans, hopes, and dreams not of God will be consumed, we will have
to cleanse our hands and purify
our hearts and this too we really
do not want to do. This, my friend, is a very painful process in our lives, and
we do not like pain. The natural man does not want to die, it wants to live and
be stroked by everyone and every feeling within our being. But, “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)
To “Draw nigh to God” will cause us
to be consumed and this we do not really want to have done to us.
Brethren,
let us desire to “Draw nigh to God”
so that we will be able to hear God speak to our spirit. Our emotions and mind
is never at rest long enough to be able to hear from God. Let us receive His word (Romans
ARTICLE REVIEW:
The True North of the Church
In the last chapter of
Matthew Jesus shares the “True North” for His
mystical Body, what today we call the Church. Here Jesus shares the vision, the direction,
the purpose of His Church upon the earth, “And Jesus came and spoke to them
saying, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth, Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you and lo I am with you always, even to the end
of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Here Jesus was establishing the pattern and
format of the Church as it relates to His expectation for success of ministry
and its relationship to others in the world.
It also was the last charge Jesus instructed His disciples to do. Because Jesus was given “all authority”
in heaven and on earth we can now, “Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations,” “baptizing them,” and “teaching them to observe all
things I have commanded you.” Today many Christians know these familiar
verses as “The Great Commission” (even in my Bible there is a topic verse
header that reads “The Great Commission”) but, Jesus never called these verses
“The Great Commission.” Oh no, this term and concept has been invented and
implemented by those in the Church who are trying to Christianize the
world. Jesus did not say for us to “Go”
and make Christian movies about child abuse or any other social issue of the
day. Jesus’ idea was one of going as a witness, teaching, and making disciples.
Disciples are made one-on-one, by giving of our selves often through weariness,
loneliness, even fear at times, and so much more, but always through laying
down our lives. This was the spiritual principle Jesus had in mind when He spoke
these words. Going, making, and teaching what we have observed and learned of
God and the things He has commanded us and nothing else. And out from our going, teaching, and making
disciples the Gospel is preached to all in the world. Now this is quite different my friend then
taking the Gospel to the world via satellite. You know it is much easier to go
by way of satellite then as a witness?
Not much sacrifice involved. Physically
going as a witness to the nations will require you to lose your life, but that
is okay, “the Lord kills and makes alive” at the same time. What was the burden of Paul’s prayers? It was for the spiritual growth and
development of Believers – the Body. It
was not bringing the kingdom on earth and getting this world set straight, nor
was this the object of Jesus’ prayer in John 17. His burden was bringing out of
the world as many as possible into salvation.
Jesus said, Go ye to the ends of the earth with the Gospel message,
where did we get off track? Brethren we
have gotten off the “True North” from Jesus’ words. Sadly, we have gone adrift from God’s
original compass setting for His Church. Do you know what the word “Go”
means in the Greek? “Go.” “Go” means “Go.” “Go” means you “Go” not a car
or another person, but you. You “Go”
does not mean you give money to soothe your conscience, but means you “Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”
When going always remember the power of authority and the power to execute are two different things. We receive power to do the things which God permits. He will give us only enough power as the occasion demands and after that, we might as well sit down. God retains the right to dispense the power. God is yet sovereign, He only gives the measure when the occasion arises. That is why none of us can take the initiative to do things in God. The naked Word has not any power at all, but when God speaks that Word to our heart, the Spirit quickens it, and it becomes creative. Faith and power come with the creative Word.
Jesus said, “baptizing
them.” Always remember being baptized in other parts of the world carries a
greater cost and price then in the States. The first time I went to
In Ephesians Paul shares with us some offices
and functions of the Church, “and He Himself
(God) gave some to apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some
pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12) Why did God establish these offices and
enable these functions within the Church?
The correct answer is, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations” and “teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” There is no other acceptable answer, because
the chief purpose of the Church is to be the platform to “Go” from. After the Church is established and the
people are “equipped” and “edified” they are to “Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations,” but that is not what I see going
on. The Church, corporately, in the States
seems be in a perpetual equipping and edifying of it’s self. Very few Churches
have a “true” heart for missions. Recently I looked at a monthly report from a
rather large well established church, 3% of monthly receipts was spent towards,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,” 97% was spent on
local outreach, music, church growth programs, salaries, utilities, housing,
life insurances for the staff, most spent on administrative functions, Brethren
this ought not to be. It should be the
other way around. Wouldn’t it be nice if
they spent 97% on what Jesus told us to do and 3% on keeping the Church
afloat? We now have mega-churches that
host conference after conference to draw bigger membership. Jesus did not say
make mega-churches and see how many members you can get, He said, “make
disciples.” It seems to me too many
Churches are occupied and wrapped up in the latest Church prophecy, move of
God, the current praise and worship music, or church growth programs and not
Jesus’ words to us.
I often wonder how and why
the Church got so far off course from what Jesus asked us to do in
Matthew. All of the original Disciples
had the same message and stepped off at the same time. All but Paul walked and
talked with Jesus. All but Paul saw miracle after miracle with Jesus’ loving
hands. After all, what they saw and heard was the message the Disciples were to
teach others to observe, “that which we have seen and heard we declare to
you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is
with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you
that your joy may be full. This the message which we have heard from Him and
declare to you that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John
1:3-5) They were not to make up their own message or religion, but we
seemed to have. I kind of think we have
gone adrift because we have failed to follow Jesus’ instructions when He said, “teaching
them to observe all things I have commanded you.” For us to be able to
teach what we have been commanded we first must have an understanding of the
message and His commandments. How can I
teach something if I do not know what I am teaching? I really hate to seem critical, but sadly
most Churches today have not allowed God to work in their lives to perfect and
correct them. There seems to be a lot of self-indulgence going on in many
Churches. I want mine now! Its mine you promised it to me so let me have it.
Whatever happened to waiting? Karen (my sweetheart) said Christians who take
this view do so because they really do not believe they will receive something
in the hereafter. But, why is this view so, because most Christians desire to
know and be known by man and not God.
Paul desired to know God, this is why he had a great revelation of God
and why he was fearless in doing God’s will for his life, he desired to be
approved of God and not man.
Brethren it is time to get
back to God’s “True North” for the Church, before it is too late, back to His
original purpose and pattern for spreading the Gospel. It is time for us to get back to what Jesus
asked us to do before He went to be with the Father. Brethren let us fulfill
the words of Jesus to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”
When we go towards our self-life and desires, even to do good things for God,
we always get off course from what God said.
Paul knew this truth oh so well, “For do I now persuade men or God?
Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet
pleased men, I should not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) Paul guarded against this drifting away from
God’s purpose by always focusing on knowing God, “that I might know Him and
the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being
conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10)
The voice of man was faint because his ear was tuned to the louder voice
of God’s appraisal. He was fearless of
man’s judgment because he was conscious he stood before a higher tribunal. Written
by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Rhinestone Christian
I met a woman who was wearing one of those rhinestone
crucifix. I thought about it.
Rhinestones although flashy are cheap imitations of real diamonds. Flashy and fake. Real diamonds in the rough are almost
unrecognizable compared to the stunning jewelry they become through much
chipping away, cutting, and polishing.
Not unlike our Christian walk. To
become “Christlike” are we willing to endure God’s cutting away of those things
in our lives that hinder our ability to shine as a Christian. Do we allow God to chip away those things
that are not pleasing to Him? Are we
willing to endure the uncomfortable polishing that God will do in our
lives?
It is easy to say you are a Christian, God loves you,
or life is rosy. Yes, God does love you,
but do not stop there. Allow God to do
His work in you. You “are His
workmanship . . .” (Ephesians
POETRY CORNER:
Following the Star
By John Wright
Follette
Taken from Smoking Flax
and other poems
FOLLOWING THE STAR
I do not know how long the
Wise Men sought
The guidance of the star of
Before they worshipped at the
Christ Child’s feet.
It was an unknown path confronting them.
Half buried lay their hearts
in Wise Men’s lore
And superstition common to their day.
But underneath and piercing
through there came
A call for Him- the Light, the Truth, the
Way.
The dangers which they passed
I cannot trace;
They had no sacred scroll to give them
light.
But, trusting in the guidance
of a star,
God saw their faith and brought them through
the night.
So let us trust that God may
guide our hearts
Through all the tangled maze of man-made
creeds,
O’er rocky roads where dogma
would withstand,
Through desert of traditions with their
needs,
Until a fuller revelation
dawns.
Our hearts have caught the gleam of Christ
our star,
And as we follow on in all
its light,
The Lord will bring us even from afar.
Thus with angelic hosts and
men below,
Our seeking hearts may be a place made meet
To worship and adore the Holy
Child,
And lay our humble gifts at His dear feet.
DEAR FRIENDS:
Well, here I am still in
As we read the newspaper and watch TV
about the devastation along the
My “Sweetheart” Karen is
doing well and sends her love and prayers too.
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In
Silistra,
2. In
3. In
4. Pastor
Joseph Mutua in
5. Pastor
Mike Olufemi in the north of
6. Pastor
S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor
Julian both near
7. Financial
support for the printing of: “Adventures with God.”
8. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of
Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in
9. Pastor
Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastor Isreal Mutaitina in
10. Major Rob McIntosh, Chaplin,
11. The Maternity and Children’s Clinic project
in
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
October:
November: Local Ministry
December:
I am still available to share what God has given me at
churches and/or home groups. Also, if
God moves on your heart to bless the ministries I visit and share God’s love I
would be honored to make it possible for God and you. God told Abram, “I will bless those who bless
you and curse those who curse you.” (Genesis 12:3) If you want a blessing, then bless someone Remember, God is to you what you are
to God.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
David and Karen
Stahl
Jacksonville , NC 28546
Phone:
Home: (910) 346-1739
FAX: (910) 346-1739
Email:
dstahl@ec.rr.com
Website:
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ministry please feel free to contact me with the above information. Costs ever
increase.
PLEASE
look within your abilities to begin supporting or to increase your support to
cover these costs. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting is even
greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible
